Plastic tub assembly for use with clothes washer

ABSTRACT

A plastic tub assembly for a clothes washer includes a rotatable plastic inner tub nested inside a nonrotatable plastic outer tub. The inner tub has an integral central agitator and outer scrubbing ribs and is adapted for a driving connection with an oscillation or spinning mechanism. Strengthening the inner tub is provided by a reinforced bottom wall and a metal circumscribing ring, the ring also preventing spin welding of the plastic tubs. The outer tub has an overflow channel at the top and an integral pump housing and antidrip flange at the bottom.

United States Patent Byron L. Brucken;

Ronal H. Whyte, both of Dayton, Ohio 33,237

Apr. 30, 1970 Sept. 7, 1971 General Motors Corp.

Detroit, Mich.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PLASTIC TUB ASSEMBLY FOR USEWITH CLOTHES WASHER 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 68/23, 68/174, 68/233 Int. Cl D06f 23/04, D06f 37/14, DO6f37/38Field of Search 68/23, 174,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,887,887 5/1959 Jennings 68123.7X 3,029,623 4/1962 Morey 68/174 X 3,069,887 12/1962 Gould 68/236 XFOREIGN PATENTS 928,374 6/1963 Great Britain 68/232 PrimaryExaminer-William I. Price Attorneys-William S. Pettigrew and FrederickM. Ritchie ABSTRACT: A plastic tub assembly for a clothes washerincludes a rotatable plastic inner tub nested inside a nonrotatableplastic outer tub. The inner tub has an integral central agitator andouter scrubbing ribs and is adapted for a driving connection with anoscillation or spinning mechanism. Strengthening the inner tub isprovided by a reinforced bottom wall and a metal circumscribing ring,the ring also preventing spin welding of the plastic tubs. The outer tubhas an overflow channel at the top and an integral pump housing andantidrip flange at the bottom.

PATENTEDSEP 7mm 3.603118 SHEET 1 [IF 4 i II :I 'i 1 :I i I [3 2022 BY252242/ b4 [2% ie A TTORNEY PATENIEDSEP 71am SHEET 2 0F 4 A TTORNEYPLASTIC TUB ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH CLOTHES WASHER This invention relatesto domestic appliances and, more particularly, to a plastic tubeassembly for a clothes washer.

The prior art in clothes washers discloses nested tub assemblies,plastic tubs and tubs with integral agitators. This invention isdirected to a novel assembly of plastic tubs which are light in weight,yet sturdy enough to withstand the oscillating forces of clothes beingwashed, the centrifugal forces of clothes being spun and the temperatureeffect of 180 F. washing fluid.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a nestedplastic tub assembly with means to withstand the forces of oscillationand spinning by strengthening and separating the tubs.

Another object of this invention is the provision in a pair of nestedplastic tubs of integral clothes agitating means in one of said tubs andintegral pump housing means in the other of said tubs.

Another object of this invention is the provision of improved means forassembling plastic clothes washer tubs.

Still another object of this invention is the provision in a clotheswasher of a pair of plastic tubs which have integrally formed as aportion thereof agitating means, clothes guard means, pump housing meansand strengthening means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of adomestic clothes washer provided with the plastic tub assembly of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 toshow a metal strengthening ring for the inner tub;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2to show an arrangement for attaching the strengthens g;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2 toshow an overflow arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the inner and outer tubassembly to show the arrangement for fastening portions of the asembly;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of one fastening arrangement taken in thedirection of line 7-7 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a preferredarrangement for locating and supporting plastic tubs.

GENERAL In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIG. I,a clothes washer I0 is shown having an outer tub assembly or watercontainer I2 and an inner tub assembly or spin tub 14. The outer tubassembly I2 is mounted on a suspension system having a support plate 16which is located by a plurality of support braces 18 as described morefully in US. Pat. No. 3,493,l l8 granted Feb. 3, I970.

Supported beneath the support plate 16 is an oscillating and spinningdrive mechanism 20 for the clothes washer which may be of the typedescribed in copending application Ser. No. 798,298 also assigned to theassignee of this invention. Extending upwardly from the oscillating andspinning drive mechanism 20 is the tub drive shaft 22. The tub driveshaft 22 extends through the support plate 16 and the outer tub assembly12. The tub drive shaft 22 is rotatably mounted with respect to thesupport plate I6 by sleeve bearings 23. Located on the upper end of thetub drive shaft 22 is a spin tub support 24 which extends into amortiseand tenon-driving relationship with the inner tub assembly 14 aswill be explained more fully hereinafter.

OTHER TUB ASSEMBLY The outer tub assembly I2 is comprised of a plasticouter tub having a preformed bottom wall 32 and a sidewall 34. Thebottom wall is formed with an integral depending pump housing 36 whichhas merging therewith a generally arcuate channel 37 (FIG. 2). The pumphousing 36 is closed on the top side by a pump cover 38 having an inletopening 40 facing the channel 37 to receive the swirling water withinthe outer tub 30 during a pumpout cycle. The pump housing and coverenclose an impeller 39 on the upper end of a motor shaft 41 driven by aBis-horsepower reversible motor 43. With the motor operating, water willbe pumped to drain through a con duit 42 attached to the integral outlet44 of the pump housing.

The bottom wall 32 of the outer tub includes several depending struts 46and a collar 47 adapted for attachment to and supported by the supportplate 16. At the juncture of the bottom wall 32 with the sidewall 34, anantidrip flange 48 is integrally formed as a downward extension of thesidewall to divert fluids which overflow the top of the outer tub 30from running under the tub and dropping on the components of theoscillating and drive mechanism 20. A pressure tap 52 may 1 also beformed integrally with the outer tub alongside the pump housing 36. Thetap connection 52 can be connected in the conventional manner with apressure switch to terminate a fill cycle when the presence of water issensed in the sump formed by the pump housing 36.

At the top of the outer tub 30 is a plastic outer tub rim 56. The rimincludes a pair of spaced upstanding walls 58, 60 forming a circulartrough 62 and a collar 64 depending from the trough and nesting withinthe top of the sidewall 34. A butyl rubber seal 66 (FIG. 6) iscompressed by the nesting of the outer tub rim 56 with the outer tub 30to form a sealed jointure between. The trough wall 58 overlies the innertub assembly I4 in a manner to receive overflow from the inner tubassembly. The trough leads to a basin 70 (FIG. 2) having an openingcollar 72 to which a conduit 74 may be attached. The conduit directs theoverflow water from the trough to a portion of the clothes washer nearthe floor and below the electrical components of the clothes washer.

The method of assembling the outer tub is best understood with referenceto FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The outer tub rim 56 is provided with a pluralityof lugs 78 spaced 45 apart about the periphery of the rim. Each of thelugs 78 form with the nested flange 64 a recess or annular groove 80 of0.080 inches width to receive the seal ring 66. Moreover, each of thelugs 78 extend a distance of 0.080 inches below the uppermost portion ofthe recess 80 and include a shoulder 84 which rests on the top of thesidewall 34. Between the lugs (FIG. 5) the seal is trapped by the 0.040inch by 45 chamfer on the top of the sidewall and the 20 back draft onthe top of the recess 80. This arrangement allows the assembly anddisassembly of the outer tub rim, the outer tub, and the seal ringwithout damaging the seal. Moreover, the arrangement maintains the sealin spite of the physical movement of the tub and rim brought about bythe periodic exposure of the parts to hot and cold washing fluid. Inorder to assure a proper mating of the outer rim, the outer tub and theseal ring, the top edge of the sidewall 34 outboard of the chamfershould be smooth and flat. Each lug has a groove 88 in the top thereof.A retaining spring 90 of 0.054-inch spring wire and zinc plated to aminimum 0.00015 inch is formed with a top hook end 92 and a bottom hookend 94. The top end 92 of the spring hooks over each of the lugs 78 inthe groove 88 thereof while the bottom end hooks over the antidripflange 48. A bias capability is imparted to the elongated spring bycrimping the wire at its lower end with a 0.48-inch radius at 96 and a0.62-inch radius at 98.

To assemble the outer tub assembly, the seal 66 is fitted around thedepending collar 64 of the outer tub rim and pressed into the groove 80.Then the outer tub rim is positioned on top of the outer tub 30 untilthe shoulder 84 of the lug rests flnnly and squarely on the top edge ofthe outer tub sidewall. A spring 90 is snapped over each of the lugs 78and the antidrip flange 48 to complete the fastening of the componentsin the assembly.

The material for the outer tub plastic portions should be polypropylene.At the top of the sidewall 34 the tub diameter is 20.64 inches while thediameter at the antidrip flange 13.45 inches below is 19.19 inches. Thewall thickness of the outer tub and the outer tub rim is substantiallyall 0.120 inch. Substantially all fillet radii should be 0.06 inch. Itis important to minimize the section of the outer tub rim at thelocation of each lug 78. In this way there will be less shrinkage at thelug locations after removal of the part from the mold.

INNER TUB ASSEMBLY The inner tub assembly 14 is adapted for rotation andoscillation by the mechanism 20. The inner tub assembly nests within theouter tub assembly in spaced relation-thereto and includes a plasticinner tub 110 having a slightly outwardly tapered outer sidewall 112 anda central reentry portion 114 forming a generally star-shaped pedestalin the central portion of the tub. The pedestal 114 is formed in twoportions-an agitator portion 115 and a circulator and attachment portion117. The portion 115 is an integral agitator having three hollowagitator vanes 115a, b and c which extend upwardly into three solidagitator fins or ribs 115a, b and c spaced 120 apart. Each rib is about0.10 inch thick and 0.50 inch deep at the top but the thickness variesfrom 0.10 inch to 0.18 inch as the rib merges with the pedestal eightinches below. The vanes 1 15a, b and c when oscillated produce atoroidal flow of washing fluid in the tub. The other portion 1 17 is forattachment to the support portion 24 of the drive mechanism and includesthree connecting drive sockets 117a, b and c spaced 120 apart. Theportion 117 aids in producing toroidal flow of washing fluid in the tuband in preventing clothes from clinging to the agitator. The pedestal114 is joined to the sidewall 112 by a bottom wall 116 of thickenedcross section. At the outside of the bottom wall, where the tub is 17.54inches in diameter, the sidewall blends in a LIZ-inch outside radiusfrom a sidewall thickness of 0.090 inch to a bottom wall thickness of0.180 inch. At the inside the pedestal blends in a 0.62-inch outsideradius from a pedestal thickness of 0.120 inch to a bottom wallthickness of 0.180 inch. In between the bottom wall expands to a centralthickness of 0.280 inch. The expanding thickness of the tub bottomallows, during injection molding, the fluid plastic fiber mix, flowingfrom the pedestal area to the outer wall, to slow down, i.e. reducevelocity. The change in velocity allows the glass fibers percent byweight) to concentrate in the area of the tub bottom where the velocityis lowest. This glass fiber concentration gives added stiffness to thetub bottom in the area requiring greatest stiffness to support the washload and to resist deflection during spin extraction, by unbalancedloads.

The outer wall 112 is formed with 45 inwardly directed tub scrubbingribs 120 spaced 8 apart from the inside of the tub and generally abovethe drive sockets 117a, b and c and opposite the agitator ribs 115a, band c. The tub ribs 120, starting at a point 121, 2.58 inches below thetop of the outer sidewall 112, taper in the vertical direction to runoutfrom a cross-sectional thickness of 0.180-inch to a 0.090-inch wallthickness 4.56 inches below merging smoothly with the sidewall of theinner tub. In the lateral direction each rib is formed at the top with aradius of 0. I 8 inch from the outer surface of the sidewall and tapersor runs out to a point where the rib merges into the wall thickness of0.090 inch. The number of scrubbing ribs 120 depends on the diameter ofthe tub and the size of the drive mechanism motor. Thus the 45 scrubbingribs 120 provide for acceptable washing results in a tub of about 20inches. in diameter oscillated by-a iii-horsepower motor.

Circumscribingthe top of the sidewall 112 are a plurality of attachmentfingers. The tub diameter at the joint is 19.12 inches and the tub depthis about 13 inches. Alternating are inverted T-shaped fingers 124 andtriangular-shaped fingers 126. The cross of the inverted T forms ashoulder 128 for positioning the inner tub rim 132 thereon as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

The inner tub rim 132 is molded and formed with a radial flange 134including alternating relatively large arcuate slots 136 and smallarcuate slots 138 for cooperating respectively with the fingers 1-24 and126 at the top of the inner tub 110. The leg of the inverted T-shapedfinger 124 has a right-angle grip portion 140 at the end thereof whichsnaps through the slot 136 (FIG. 3) to retain the rim on the tub. Thetriangular fingers extend into the slots 138 and define with the radialflange 134 and the inverted T-shaped fingers 124 outflow ports 142through which washing fluid is centrifuged when the inner tub assembly14 is rotated. The rim 132 includes a depending collar portion 146 whichlies in spaced juxtaposition to the outflow ports and thereby acts as aclothes guard to prevent clothes from blocking the outflow ports duringtub rotation.

The inner tub assembly is provided with two means for strengthening theassembly in view of potential stresses brought about in a clothescentrifuging operation. One method is ,to impregnate the polypropyleneof the inner tub 110 with glass fibers. Glass fibers during molding willsettle into the thickened portion of the bottom wall of the tub forstrengthening the tub as described hereinbefore.

Another arrangement for strengthening the inner tub assembly is toencircle the inner tub rim with a stainless steel channel member or ring150. The ring has an additional function useful with plastic tubs. Itsouter peripheral edge in occasionally hitting the collar 64 provides astainless steel bumper to prevent any tendency to spin weld a spinninginner tub 14 to the outer tub 12. For snap fastening the ring 150 overthe inner tub rim 132, locking lugs 152 are formed in the rim above theradial flange 134. The ring includes a ii-inch X V4- inch tang 154 whichextends into a slot 156 in the radial flange to prevent the ring fromturning relative to the inner tub rim. A pair of take up springs 160 arespaced l20 apartbetween the inner tub rim and the strengthening ring150.

TUB MOUNTING The interconnection between the outer tub assembly 12 andthe inner tub assembly 14 with the oscillating end-spinning mechanism 20will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. In order thatthere be alignment between the movable -seal members 196 and the fixedseal members 182,

' 194, the plastic tubs must be fixed at critical locations. For thisreason the support portion 24 of the mechanism 20 includes three drivetenons 24a, b and c. Each tenon 24 (FIG. 8) has a rib 25 which extendsradially from a hub 26. At the outer end of each rib is a tub supportportion 28 which faces the rib on the top and bottom thereof and exactlyconfonns to the inside of the sockets 1 17. It is the three supportportions 28 that form tenons on which the inner tub 14 is mortised,thereby to nest snugly within the drive socket 1 17 of the star-shapedpedestal and to locate the inner tub. A connecting rod 166 extendsupwardly from the drive shaft 22 and through a top opening 167 in thepedestal where it receives a lock nut 168. This top opening 167 duringinjection molding, may also contain the sprue for the mold. A plasticcap 170 may decoratively cover the lock nut and seal the top of theagitator from the washing fluids.

In addition to the struts 46 and collar 47 the outer tub 30 iscritically positioned in the center on a mechanism support housing 184.The outer tub has a tubular reentry portion 186 and the mechanismsupport housing has an upstanding collar 188. The inside of the collar188 supports the sleeve bearings 23. The outside of the collar has threeguide ribs 190 spaced 120 apart and firmly anchored as at 191 to thesupport plate l6.'With the inner tub firmly positioned on the drivetenons 24 and the outer tub firmly positioned on the collar of themechanism support housing 184 and the mechanism support plate 16, thereis assurance that the plastic tubs will remain aligned at the sealmembers 180, 182 for the life of the product. Moreover, the alignment ofthe movable pump seal member 194 with the fixed ring and gasket assemblymember 196 is maintained by a depending plastic collar 198 on the pumphousing 36. A bearing retainer 200 for the motor shaft 41 is firmlyanchored as at 201 to the support plate 16. The collar 198 provides asocket which overlies the bearing retainer 200 and in so doingcooperates with the outer tub reentry portion 186 and the guide ribs 190to permanently and properly locate the plastic outer tub.

OPERATION In operation, the mechanism 20 is operated in one fashion tooscillate the shaft 22 and thus the inner tub assembly 14. The level ofthe washing fluid is about 1.50 inches below the outflow ports 142. Aslightly toroidal flow of washing fluid is initiated by the oscillationsof the vanes 115a, b and c on the agitator portion 1 and by the vanes117a, b and c on the circulator portion 117. As the clothes turn over,the ribs 115a, b and c, along with the vanes 117a, b and c, distributethe clothes load by pushing the clothes off the pedestal. As the clothesturn over in the washing fluid, they are flexed and thereby scrubbed onthe inside by the pedestal 114 and on the outside by the scrubbing ribs120. At the conclusion of a washing cycle the mechanism is operated inanother manner, such as by reversing motor 43 to rotate the drive shaft22 and the inner tub assembly 14. Water will be centrifuged from theinner tub assembly to the outer tub assembly through the outflow ports142. Once in the outer tub, the water will swirlingly enter the pumphousing 36 through its inlet 40 and will be pumped to drain through theconduit 42. Although the outer tub assembly 12 is nonrotatable and theinner tub assembly is rotatable, both assemblies are adapted formovement as a unit with the support plate 16 in response to unbalance.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms mightbe adopted.

We claim:

1. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tubassembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly nested within said outer tubassembly and in spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assemblycomprising a plastic inner tub having a slightly outwardly tapered outerwall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal withinsaid inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween,the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub being adaptedfor connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism forselectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of saidpedestal facing inside said inner tub being adapted by the oscillatingthereof to agitate clothes in said inner tub, said outer wall havingformed inwardly thereof a plurality of vertical ribs, said ribscooperating with the side of said pedestal facing inside when said innertub is oscillating in agitating clothes, said outer wall having formedaround the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating longandshort-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulderportion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer walland forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rimhaving a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flangeincluding alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively,said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulderportion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, achannel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flangeand snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ringincluding an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and anantirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tubassembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom walland a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pumphousing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewallhaving at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below thejointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflowfrom said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of saidsidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming acircular trough and a collar depending from said trough sealinglynesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair ofspaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receiveoverflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow tosaid trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to alower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, andmeans for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said lastnamed means including an elongated spring having one end connected to alug on the outside of said outer tub rim and another end connected tosaid antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portionto bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.

2. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tubassembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the samesize nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spacedrelation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tubhaving as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outerwall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal withinsaid inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween,the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socketon a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating androtating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said innertub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming anagitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formedinwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion of said pedestal aplurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at apoint with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitatorportion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitateclothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as aprojection thereof alternating longand short-spaced fingers, said longfingers having an intermediate shoulder portion and a radially outwardlyturned terminal grip portion, a plastic inner tub n'm fastened to thetop of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflowports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outerwall, said radial flange including alternating large and small portsoverfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting onthe intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingets to form the topof said outflow ports, said inner tub rim being snap fastened to saidinner tub by the interference fit of said large port with said gripportion, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above saidradial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on saidrim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radialflange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, saidouter tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformedbottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integraldepending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing,said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange dependingbelow the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for divertingoverflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on topof said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forminga circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nestingwithin the top of said sidewall, the in' nerrnost of said pair of spacedwalls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow fromsaid inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough,conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portionof said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rimincluding a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with saidcollar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and restingon an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavitycircumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within saidouter tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and meansfor connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last namedmeans including an elongated spring having one end connected to at leastone of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, saidspring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rimtoward said top of said sidewall.

3. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tubassembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the samesize nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spacedrelation thereto, saidinner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tubhaving an outer wall between l7 inches and inches in diameter, a centralreentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tuband a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side ofsaid pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lowerportion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotatingmechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, theside of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitatoron the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardlythereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribscooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said innertub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of saidpedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement ofsaid clothes when said inner tub is oscillating thereby to present theclothes repeatedly to said ribs and said agitator portion for agitation,and a plastic inner tub rim having a radial flange fastened to the topof said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports,said inner tub rim having a collar depending into said inner tub insufficiently closely spaced relationship to said outflow ports to act asa clothes guard preventing clothes from blocking said outflow ports.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the plastic for said inner tubincludes a 20 percent by weight glass fiber fill, said outer wall has across-sectional thickness of substantially 0.090 inch, said reentryportion has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0. l 20 inch,and the expanded cross section of said bottom wall is substantially0.280 inch.

5. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tubassembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the samesize nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spacedrelation thereto, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tubhaving a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formedwith an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at itslower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of saidsidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottomwall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall andincludinga pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough anda collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of saidsidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying saidinner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and todirect said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to saidtrough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer fordraining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugsat the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having ashoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of thetop of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tubwhere said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a softbutyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outertub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongatedspring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs mechanismsupport means supporting said drive mechanism,

inner tub support means including radial tenons solidl affixed to saiddrive shaft, a pump impeller solidly afiixe to said power shaft, saiddrive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, aplastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portionsnugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosingsaid pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral dependingcollar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal meansbetween said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tubsupport means, second water seal means between said pump housing andsaid pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism supportmeans and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanentlypositioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism supportmeans thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second waterseal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein acentral reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavitiesmortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means wherebyto locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally with respect tosaid outer tub and to provide the sole support for said inner tub duringoscillation and rotation thereof, the radial cavities of said socketdefining on the inside of said inner tub a radial-vaned agitator portionaiding in the initiation of flow of washing fluid within said inner tubwhen said inner tub is oscillated.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the plastic for said inner andouter tubs is polypropylene and the cross-sectional thickness of thereentry portions of said inner and outer tubs.

and the collar of said pump housing is substantially 0.120 inch.

8. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tubassembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the samesize nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spacedrelation thereto, said outer tub assembly including a plastic rimcircumscribing said inner tub assembly, said inner tub assemblycomprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having animperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestalwithin said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of saidpedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connectionwith an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillat ingor rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of saidouter wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said innertub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rimwhen said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through saidoutflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spinweld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel ringcircumscribing said inner tub assembly adjacent said plastic flange forstrengthening said inner tub assembly, said ring extending closer tosaid plastic rim than said plastic flange for preventing the occasionalengagement of said plastic flange with said plastic rim and thus thespin welding thereof.

1. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly nested within said outer tub assembly and in spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub being adapted for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub being adapted by the oscillating thereof to agitate clothes in said inner tub, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof a plurality of vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the side of said pedestal facing inside when said inner tub is oscillating in agitating clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough sealingly nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to a lug on the outside of said outer tub rim and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
 2. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion oF said pedestal a plurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at a point with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion and a radially outwardly turned terminal grip portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, said inner tub rim being snap fastened to said inner tub by the interference fit of said large port with said grip portion, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
 3. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having an outer wall between 17 inches and 20 inches in diameter, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement of said clothes when said inner tub is oscillating thereby to Present the clothes repeatedly to said ribs and said agitator portion for agitation, and a plastic inner tub rim having a radial flange fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a collar depending into said inner tub in sufficiently closely spaced relationship to said outflow ports to act as a clothes guard preventing clothes from blocking said outflow ports.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the plastic for said inner tub includes a 20 percent by weight glass fiber fill, said outer wall has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.090 inch, said reentry portion has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.120 inch, and the expanded cross section of said bottom wall is substantially 0.280 inch.
 5. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.
 6. An arrangement for positioning and permanently locating nested inner and outer plastic tubs with respect to a clothes washer mechanism and comprising, a drive mechanism having an oscillatable and rotatable vertical drive shaft and a vertical power shaft means laterally spaced from said drive shaft and adapted to selectively oscillate or rotate said drive shaft, drive mechanism support means supporting said drive mechanism, inner tub support means including radial tenons solidly affixed to said drive shaft, a pump impeller solidly affixed to said power shaft, said drive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, a plastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portion snugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosing said pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral depending collar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal means between said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tub support means, second water seal means between said pump housing and said pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism support means and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanently positioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism support means thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second water seal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein a central reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavities Mortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means whereby to locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally with respect to said outer tub and to provide the sole support for said inner tub during oscillation and rotation thereof, the radial cavities of said socket defining on the inside of said inner tub a radial-vaned agitator portion aiding in the initiation of flow of washing fluid within said inner tub when said inner tub is oscillated.
 7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the plastic for said inner and outer tubs is polypropylene and the cross-sectional thickness of the reentry portions of said inner and outer tubs and the collar of said pump housing is substantially 0.120 inch.
 8. In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly including a plastic rim circumscribing said inner tub assembly, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having an imperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rim when said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through said outflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spin weld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel ring circumscribing said inner tub assembly adjacent said plastic flange for strengthening said inner tub assembly, said ring extending closer to said plastic rim than said plastic flange for preventing the occasional engagement of said plastic flange with said plastic rim and thus the spin welding thereof. 